Darkthrone - Astral Fortress

Darkthrone time travels to Tumblr circa 2014.

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on November 14th, 2022) 

The band that everyone loves to love and loves to hate is has returned, and they give just as little of a fuck for the world’s opinion as they did the last 30 years. Darkthrone is back ladies and gents, with their newest project Astral Fortress having come out last month. It’s been slightly over a year since their last release, Eternal Hails……, which was one of the best things the duo had done in the 21st century, so I was curious to see what the future had for us in store after that. Lo and behold, we got new music completely out of the blue, with a very goofy and tongue-in-cheek cover that seems endearing when it comes from these guys. But what about the music itself, does it stack up to their previous works, yes or no?

As one would expect from a band as divisive as Darkthrone, the answer lies somewhere in between. While there are songs here that would make the cut on an imaginary Darkthrone – The Best of the 21st Century compilation, there are others that feel totally drab and fail to elicit any other sentiment other than boredom. The first half of the album is the biggest offender here, since it features some of their most lethargic songwriting in quite some time, with the exception of “Caravan of Broken Ghosts”. Darkthrone has been indulging us in quite a bit of doom metal ever since Arctic Thunder, but tracks like “Impeccable Caverns of Satan” and “Stalagmite Necklace”, despite their cool titles, are so laid-back you’d be forgiven for thinking Fenriz and Nocturno Culto sleepwalked through them. It’s a known fact that doom metal as a genre lives and dies by the almighty “riff”, and sadly plodding drawn out chords don’t make for particularly interesting songs. It’s a shame really, because the aforementioned “Caravan…” makes for a very strong opener, with its slightly haphazard yet evolving song structure, which goes from acoustics and doom riffs to some traditional gallops and tremolo riffing. The transitions are a bit sloppy, sure, but it has that “Je ne sais quoi” that the duo has had in spades ever since they started making music.

Thankfully, the second half is much, much stronger, with every song that follows “Stalagmite Necklace” being a hit, with the exception of the “Kolbotn, West of the Vast Forests” interlude. “The Sea Beneath the Seas of the Sea” is a bona-fide epic, and while structurally similar to the opener, it boasts a strong and varied riffset, as well as some light synth touches that help enhance the forlorn vibe of the song. The last quarter of that song in general might just be one of the best moments on the entire release, a hefty doom riff supporting a shimmering lead melody that hovers over the song until its end. I also couldn’t forget to bring up “Kevorkian Times” and “Eon 2”, two great songs that sadly make Astral Fortress’ lopsided nature all the more apparent. The former leans quite heavily into the blackened doom sound seen on Darkthrone’s latest two projects, with some blackened flourishes on the riffing, which help add more flavour to the song. As for “Eon 2”, no doubt a reference to the original off the band’s debut, it’s the most overtly “traditional” song of the bunch, its gallops and harmonies bringing to mind NWOBHM legends of old. It makes for a very upbeat closer, and while it might not stack up to its older sibling, I hope it’s a sign of where the band will go next.

Sonically, we’re greeted by the same production that we’ve been enjoying over the past decade or two. A solid and organic mix, that is neither too raw nor too polished, and is focused on delivering an authentic sound. The guitars and the bass have a retro sound to them, along with a light coat of fuzz, at the same time maintaining a good amount of heft, whereas the drums are rather unobtrusive, both in their playing and sound, but their contribution cannot be understated, even if it’s just simple beats. The mixing is also quite solid, with every instrument having its own room and role, never taking the spotlight from one another. Even Nocturno Culto’s weathered rasp is as strong as it’s ever been, which is quite impressive considering how long he’s been doing that. His ghoulish presence is as important as the riffs themselves, and he does provide some great vocal lines throughout, as does Fenriz with his slightly cheesy clean vocals.

While it might be among my least favourite works the duo has put out in recent memory, there’s an undeniable charm to it that any fan will appreciate. The Darkthrone spirit is as intact as it’s ever been, Fenriz’s rummaging through his old records is still entertaining, and most importantly, they still don’t care about what I, or anyone else for that matter, thinks. Sure, I might not have been as enchanted by this album as I was by Eternal Hails, and I won’t be revisiting it as much as some of their past material, but it’s still a project from one of the most “trve” artists in metal. Even if it isn’t among their best work, it’s a celebration of metal’s spirit, and I’ll always love that about these guys.

Highlights: Caravan of Broken Ghosts, The Sea Beneath the Seas of the Sea, Eon 2

Rating: 74%